When you upload a new certificate in CertCapture, the new document doesn't automatically replace the existing one. CertCapture uses a set of rules to determine if the pending or historical certificate is the active exemption document.

Understand active, inactive, and partially active certificates

Every CertCapture exemption certificate should be attached to at least one customer record. Once attached, a certificate is considered one of the following:

Active - The certificate is the best one to support the customer's exempt status

Inactive - The certificate is attached to the customer, but is not the best document to support the customer's exempt status

Partially active - The certificate is attached to more than one customer record and is active for one but inactive for another

CertCapture uses a set of rules to determine which certificate is active for a customer record. These rules are listed below in order of priority for CertCapture. Click a rule below to expand its details.

1. Is the new certificate valid?

In the examples below, A is the existing certificate and B is the newly uploaded certificate.

If A is invalid and B is valid, B is the active certificate and A becomes inactive

If A is valid and B is invalid, A is the active certificate and B becomes inactive

If both A and B are invalid, proceed to the next step

If both A and B are valid, proceed to the next step

2. Is the new certificate expired?

In the examples below, A is the existing certificate and B is the newly uploaded certificate.

If A is expired and B isn't expired, B is the active certificate and A becomes inactive

If A isn't expired and B is expired, A is the active certificate and B becomes inactive

If both A and B are expired, proceed to the next step

If both A and B are not expired, proceed to the next step

3. What is the sign date on the certificate?

In the examples below, A is the existing certificate and B is the newly uploaded certificate.

If A’s sign date was more recent than B’s sign date, A is the active certificate and B becomes inactive

If B’s sign date was more recent than A’s sign date, B is the active certificate and A becomes inactive

If A and B have the same sign date, proceed to the next step

4. What is the expiration date on the certificate?

In the examples below, A is the existing certificate and B is the newly uploaded certificate.

If A’s expiration date is later than B’s sign date, A is the active certificate and B becomes inactive

If B’s expiration date is later than A’s sign date, B is the active certificate and A becomes inactive

If A and B have the same expiration date, proceed to the next step

5. What date was the certificate created?

In the examples below, A is the existing certificate and B is the newly uploaded certificate.

If A’s created date was more recent than B’s sign date, A is the active certificate and B becomes inactive

If B’s created date was more recent than A’s sign date, B is the active certificate and A becomes inactive

If A and B have the same created date, proceed to the next step

6. What is the certificate ID?

In the example below, A is the existing certificate and B is the newly uploaded certificate.

Every certificate added to CertCapture is assigned a certificate ID. The certificate with the highest certificate ID number becomes the active certificate, the other becomes the inactive certificate.